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Abstract
White matter (WM) microstructure is a sensitive marker to distinguish individuals at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The association of objective physical fitness (PF) measures and WM microstructure has not been explored and mixed results reported with physical activity (PA). Longitudinal studies of WM with PA and PF measures have had limited investigation. This study explored the relationship between objective PF measures over 24-months with “normal-appearing” WM microstructure. Data acquired on magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure “normal-appearing” WM microstructure at baseline and 24-months. Clinical variables such as cognitive and blood-based measures were collected longitudinally. Also, as part of the randomized controlled trial of a PA, extensive measures of PA and fitness were obtained over the 24 months. Bilateral corticospinal tracts (CST) and the corpus callosum showed a significant association between PF performance over 24-months and baseline WM microstructural measures. There was no significant longitudinal effect of the intervention or PF performance over 24-months. Baseline WM microstructural measures were significantly associated with PF performance over 24-months in this cohort of participants with vascular risk factors and at risk of Alzheimer’s disease with distinctive patterns for each PF test.
Highlights
Physical inactivity is estimated to be the third-largest modifiable risk factor in dementia, after limited formal education and smoking (Norton et al, 2014)
We explored the effect of a moderate 24-month physical activity (PA) intervention on longitudinal WMM in individuals with vascular risk factors at risk of Alzheimer’s disease
We examined the association between baseline and longitudinal WMM measures with a change in physical fitness (PF) measures over 24 months [explored as group differences between those participants who improved their PF and those who did not]
Summary
Physical inactivity is estimated to be the third-largest modifiable risk factor in dementia, after limited formal education and smoking (Norton et al, 2014). In individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or subjective memory complaints (SMC) who are at increased risk of dementia, physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve cognition as well as increased fitness, function, mobility, and strength (Norton et al, 2014). Earlier studies reported that higher levels of physical fitness (PF) are associated with increased frontal and corpus-callosum WM volume (Erickson et al, 2007). In people living with MCI compared with cognitively normal individuals, studies (Chua et al, 2008; Di Paola et al, 2010; Stricker et al, 2016) have shown reduced anisotropy in the corpus-callosum, temporal WM, and parietal WM over and above age-related changes in WMM). In SMC participants, researchers (Ohlhauser et al, 2019) have been shown widespread changes in WM with decreased FA, decreased MD, and increased RD compared with cognitively normal participants
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